The Best and the Worst of the Week

Darryl
Phillips and Jeff Mitchell , of the Phillips and Mitchell law firm,
made it possible for Hope House to debut a new computer lab last week so that
it can offer advanced job skills training. With other volunteers, the two worked
to raise money for the nonprofit advocacy group and sponsored its main fundraising
gala, "A Night for Hope," last spring. Hope House offers such programs as adult
education, youth activities, after-school tutoring and a transitional housing
program.

Publicists
for the City of Slidellwon three national awards for various marketing campaigns, including
"best in show" honors. The City-County Communications and Marketing Association
of Washington, D.C., awarded Slidell's Department of Cultural and Public Affairs
its highest honor, the President's Award, for its Arts Evening Marketing Plan.
That campaign also won the "Savvy Award," and Slidell's Christmas Under the
Stars brochure won an Award of Excellence.

Rev. Norwood N. Hingle III,
invited to deliver an opening prayer at a recent City Council meeting, instead
took the opportunity to vilify the Southern Decadence festival held over Labor
Day weekend. Hingle, pastor of the Lake Vista United Methodist Church, referred
to the popular celebration of gay culture as immoral and criticized its supporters.
His opinions were not shared by council members and subsequent speakers, some
of whom rebuked Hingle's remarks.

The Mental Health Rehabilitation Service,
a state health program, provides inept care to about 6,000 Medicaid patients
who receive its services, says a new report by the nonprofit Advocacy Center.
The study was based on court documents, Department of Health and Hospitals records,
and patient interviews. The report says private companies hired to provide care
to indigent clients are "neither competent nor honest" and that they misappropriate
public funds and are poorly supervised by state officials.